Since the time of the Gold Rush in the mid-19th century, San Francisco has welcomed rapid influxes of people seeking fortune, creative liberty and social acceptance. It’s one of the elements that makes the city loved by locals and visitors the world over. All of the successfully transformative moments in our history have been rooted in the personal courage of the city’s residents, and San Francisco today is no different. As we watch housing prices soar and income disparities deepen, we cannot expect the city to rebalance without thoughtful, dedicated action on the part of its residents.
The path forward toward inclusion and affordability requires us to take advantage of all the resources and techniques at our disposal. In this moment in history, civic engagement opportunities are transforming to include social media and open data tools that support collective, coordinated action and non-traditional grassroots organizing. The key question is: what kind of city do we want to create for the next generation? How can this be informed by our history and what we have we learned from those who secured rights and freedoms before us? This will define how we will be remembered for our actions in a time of great growth.
In 1964, san francisco hosted the third-largest civil rights protest in the nation, and one of the most significant demonstrations for equal opportunity employment. A peaceful occupation of the cadillac dealership forced hiring agreements in more than 300 businesses, creating a more equitable workforce in the city.
Social movements allow us to connect with those who share our commitments and help us understand the diverse needs of other people. They stir up and give voice to a variety of perspectives, inviting discussion, debate, conflict and resolution, and co-creation. Social movements refresh and keep relevant the needs of the community. They put forward many opportunities for residents to bring about change. Above all, social movements lay out a path forward to:
1. Build networks for communities to amplify unheard voices, foster empathy and inclusivity and communicate the change we seek.
2. Invest in civic engagement opportunities to influence policy and inspire and develop youth as future leaders.
Our Approach
San Francisco has reached a crossroads, and residents have the opportunity to decide the future character of the city. If we believe that the city is a public resource, we have questions to answer around preserving the existing character of our city, increasing density, the mix of affordable and luxury housing, where it’s located and how it’s built. Additionally, as the city’s tech industry grows, we have to decide whether we’re importing new talent or upskilling existing talent to take advantage of opportunities in that sector and in the others that are growing alongside it. Already local leaders have sought out new strategies and built new technologies to unite, inform and empower citizens to make those choices.
Economist Richard DeLeon calls San Francisco an emerging “semi-sovereign city,” a place where big ideas can take hold and drive change in the near term. “San Francisco’s progressivism is concerned with community empowerment more than class struggle,” said DeLeon, “Its first priority is...protection of the city’s environment, architectural heritage, neighborhoods, diversity and overall quality of life.”
While serving as mayor of san francisco, gavin newsom created open-source, digital tools to share information and refresh how democracy functions in our city, from understanding and shaping government policy to having access to a real-time schedule for the city buses
Together, we can build movements that strengthen empathy and inclusivity and unite communities, bringing more voices to the table. We can invest in civic engagement opportunities to influence policy and develop youth into the future leaders the city needs.
DOING THE WORK
Grassroots organizing. Network and constituency building. Civic engagement.
Access to cities is a human right. Urban areas open connections and improve quality of life. The most efficient way to extend opportunity is to build inclusive cities and uphold the rights of residents that participate in all that cities have to offer. Cities are common spaces that promote tolerance, civility and potential prosperity; they have the potential to decrease the environmental footprint and foster a robust, sustainable economy.
Local advocacy efforts have already given voice to those experiencing ellis act evictions, skyrocketing rents, foreclosures, and fractured communities. Advocacy campaigns have the potential to change the way we value the spaces in which we live and work.
We can ensure access to cities by preserving open dialogue among residents and creating well-connected city centers. We can steer growth in the direction we want to see for the next generation by organizing residents and communities to drive positive change where they live and work. Margaret Mead had it right when she said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Organizations create new pathways for engagement: whether you want to advocate for youth development programs in your neighborhood; you want to focus on citywide housing subsidies and fair rental policies; or you’re interested in hiring and upskilling entry level workers.
New approaches to advocacy also promote an open and transparent government that is receptive to the needs of its residents as the city grows. Advances in technology allow for immediate information sharing and open-source data to inform responsible and forward-thinking decisions. These advances can facilitate social movements and increase inclusion and communication transparency locally and globally.
This work includes: peer-to-peer support services that teach mutual respect and foster leadership; community organizing to highlight the needs and bring forward solutions for under-represented or disenfranchised communities; programs that support young or emerging local leaders and community stakeholders to engage in local policymaking.
